A method for quantifying the relative risk of rollover of two road freight options

Two proposed heavy vehicle configurations were being considered for the transportation of dangerous goods in remote Western Australia. A research project was established to quantify the relative risk of rollover of the two options taking into account not only the reduced dynamic stability of the larger configuration but the reduced exposure of the larger configuration that resulted from the reduced number of required trips. The assessment was based on the risk of both steady-state rollover and dynamic rollover due to rearward amplification. For a known rear trailer rollover threshold and a known rearward amplification, the critical steer axle lateral acceleration input for dynamic rollover could be determined. A recent field operational test conducted by the University of Michigan Transportation Research Institute (UMTRI) characterized a fleet of cryogenic tankers operating in the State of Michigan in terms of the probability distribution of steer axle lateral acceleration resulting from driver input. This information was used to quantify the relative risk of the critical steer axle lateral acceleration input being exceeded. The analysis first showed that the smaller configuration posed less risk, but minor design changes to the larger configuration allowed it to be seen as the preferred option.

• Record URL:
  http://road-transport-technology.org/conferenceproceedings/ishvwd-9/
• Authors:
  • Di Cristoforo, R
  • Blanksby, C
• Conference:
  • International Symposium on Heavy Vehicle Weights and Dimensions, 9th, 2006, State College, Pennsylvania, USA
• Publication Date: 2006-6

Language

• English

Media Info

• Pagination: 9p
• Monograph Title: 9th International Symposium on Heavy Vehicle Weights and Dimensions, June 18-22, 2006, Pennsylvania State University, State College, Pennsylvania

Subject/Index Terms

• TRT Terms: Acceleration (Mechanics); Hazardous materials; Motor vehicle dynamics; Overturning; Stability analysis; Tank trucks; Trailers; Trucks by number of axles; Vehicle design; Vehicle dynamics
• Uncontrolled Terms: Heavy vehicles and Mining
• Geographic Terms: Western Australia
• ATRI Terms: Acceleration; Axle configuration; Dangerous goods; Overturning; Tanker; Trailer; Vehicle dynamics; Vehicle stability
• Subject Areas: Design; Motor Carriers;

Filing Info

• Accession Number: 01388848
• Record Type: Publication
• Source Agency: ARRB
• Files: ATRI
• Created Date: Aug 23 2012 1:20AM